Jharia adds 2000 flats to rehab plan

- JRDA eyes 48 acre in Belgarhia for underground fire victims

PRADUMAN CHOUBEY

The JRDA board meeting in progress at its Hirapur office in Dhanbad on Friday. Picture by Gautam Dey

Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority (JRDA) has decided to take steps to set up 2,000 new flats in Belgarhia for accommodating residents of underground fire affected areas in Jharia, in keeping with a target of building 5,000 shelters by 2014-15.

A board meeting at the authority’s office in Hirapur on Friday decided that JRDA — the implementing agency for the rehabilitation of non-BCCL families from underground fire and subsidence affected areas under the Rs 7,028-crore Jharia Master Plan — would soon prepare a detailed project report in this regard.

The new flats will come up on 48 acres in Belgarhia.

A month ago, JRDA had placed the work order for construction of 2,000 flats having carpet area of 25 square metres each, much bigger than the existing 2,352 quarters (18sqm each) in Belgarhia.

The board meeting, presided over by North Chotanagpur commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni, also resolved to take steps to shift 82 families from the underground fire affected Bansjora Golai area to existing flats of BCCL in Dhokra.

BCCL has agreed to provide 100 of its 400 flats in Dhokra for immediate relocation people from Bansjora Golai.

Kulkarni, who is also the ex officio chairman of JRDA, told mediapersons later that the meeting also approved a plan to construct a temple, mosque and a high school in Belgarhia at an expense of Rs 2 crore.

While the temple will be built on 23 decimals at a cost of Rs 30,24,674, nine decimals have been allocated for the mosque. The high school will be built on an upper floor of a market complex.

“We will develop Belgarhia into a model township so that the we can instil a sense of confidence among residents of fire-affected areas. They will also not face any problem while relocating as part of the rehabilitation agenda,” said Kulkarni.

He added that Rs 21,93,750 was deposited with the land acquisition department for acquisition of 1.5 acres to set up a crematorium in Belgarhia and Rs 13,89,000 for the purchase of 0.95 acres for a burial ground.

On the lack employment opportunities for the residents of Belgarhia, Kulkarni said that the deputy commissioner, who is also the ex officio managing director of JRDA, has been instructed to explore possibilities of offering jobs under local contractors as well as those engaged by BCCL.

The administration was also trying to offer employ the residents by forming self-help groups, he added.

The 90-minute meeting which began around 11.30am also decided that JRDA will intensify efforts to acquire 120 acres at Nipania and Dhokra in Baliapur block and another 150 acres in Tilatand and Ganduwa mauza of Baghmara so that more houses can be built for beneficiaries of Jharia.